At least one use of GhostChat
February 2, 2026
•[ spyware, phishing, mobile malware ]
A fake Android dating app (GhostChat) identified by researchers as spyware. The app lures victims with locked profiles and fake access codes, then redirects them to WhatsApp and abuses permissions to extract data from victims phones.
At least one Jordanian activist
January 22, 2026
•[ digital forensics, government surveillance, data extraction ]
The Record summarized findings from a Citizen Lab report stating that Jordanian authorities used Cellebrite digital forensic software to extract data from phones belonging to at least seven Jordanian activists and human rights defenders between late 2023 and mid-2025. The reports evidence was based on forensic analysis of seized phones in multiple cases and court records in others, and it stated the extractions occurred while individuals were interrogated or detained for speech critical of Israels Gaza campaign.
Boniface Mwangi (Kenyan activist)
July 1, 2025
•[ spyware, surveillance, data extraction ]
An AFP/Digital Journal report said Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi feared for his life after learning spyware was installed on his phone while it was in police custody following his July 2025 arrest. The article cited Citizen Lab findings that a surveillance tool linked to Cellebrite technology enabled Kenyan police to access extensive content on the device, including messages, private files, financial information, passwords, and other sensitive data. The report describes state-enabled device compromise/data extraction rather than an enterprise network breach.
